Improvement in thf construction of printing-wheels



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS S. HUDSON, OF EAST CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN THI CONSTRUCTION 0F PRINTING-WHEELS, dc.

Specification forming part of fietters Patent No. 55,300, dated June 5, 1866.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS S. HUDSON, of East Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in the Manufacture of Printin g Wheels, Cylinders, or Prisms; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully described in the followin g specification, and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 an edge view, of a printing polygonal or prismatic wheel embracing my invention.

In carrying out my invention l combine with a plate, prism, or cylinder a printing band or chain formed of thin sheet metal and having printing types or projections raised or formed in it by means of one or more punches and one or more dies, such raised type being subsequently faced by being` ground, planed, or reduced, so as to bring their prii'lting-suri'aees into one plane, and give the requisite finish and form to them for printing letters, figures, or

other devices designed to be printed by them.

A chain of printing-links so made, or a thin band or strip of metal having type formed on it in manner and by means of punches and dies, as described, is to be laid or spread on the outer surface of the printing plate, cylinder, Wheel, or prism, and is to be fastened thereto by solder or other suitable means, so as to constitute, with the said supporting material, a printing wheel, prism, or implement.

If desirable, the incavo parts of the type may be lled with solder or other suitable metal or composition before application of the sheet band, belt, or chain to the surface destined to carry and support it.

In the drawings, A represents a printingchain, made as described, and applied to a prismatic wheel, B, the hinges of the links being received in corresponding cavities made at the angles ofthe perimeter ofthe wheel.

The above mode of making a printing plate, cylinder, or prism is particularly applicable to the production of printing-wheels, or devices used in canceling-machines, employed for cancelling' postage or revenue stamps, and renders their production, when printing wheels or prisms are employed in them, cheaper than they can be made by carving the type on the wheels or prisms, or by the usual process of electrotyping, or by founding the wheels and type in one piece.

I do not claim an engraved or carved type or printing cylinder or prism; nor do 1. claim one made by casting metal in a mold; nor do I claim a stereotyl'ie-plate and a backing fixed together, whether such backing be a plate or a cylinder or prism, as my invention differs materially therefrom.

I claim- The new manufacture of the printing or type wheel, prism, cylinder, or plate, consisting of the supporting part B, and the printing band or chain A, made with concavo-convex types, and applied to such part B, substantially in manner as described.

THOS. S. HUDSON.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, F. P. HALE, JR. 

